Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-09-08

IN response 10 the TOAST, MONTANA
The common shrine at which the
oldest pioneer and youngest pilgrim Is
an equally devoted wor~hipper'-Col.
Alex {. Botkin made the following
speech at the meeting of the Pioneers
socity at Helena:
Ladies and Gentlemen: In my aspi-
rations to he a pioneer ] seem to have
played in hard luck. | was born in
Wisconsin at n very early stage OF its
it's existence as Territory, but when
the pioneers OF that state organized
their association | found that | had
failed by few months to get myself
born soon enough to he eligible for
membership. Coming to Montana,
discovered that was barred by pro-
visO OF the constitution OF your socle-
ty, which you had placed beyond the
reach OF amendment. Now, to punish
your pride and excl,isiveness, ] wish
to remind you that "piOneer" is "a rel
ative term, and that if you were to
compare yourself to Lewis and Clarke
you are only pilgrims and you Ough.
to he looking ut your feet to see II the
bIisters are still there. Proceeding
upon these lines. when your ranks
have thinned, as, alas, they must,
intend to organize n society to he
called tM deputy Pioneers OF Mon
tana." and | will inclu'le in this organ
iza;ion all those who came into this
Territory on a bull team or ierky.
they being bound together by the rec
objection OF common suffering. We
,..tn fr al shrf tha
reasons were that induced us to leave
our former homes, or what were our
names in the States.
Mr. Chairman | recognize my in
cOmptency to accomplish the task
which you have given me in respond
ing to Montana. lcannot forget that
we have an area OF 141.OOO square
miles. or over l9,oOO.O0O of acres;
that within that area wehave mineral
wealth richer and more varied than i'll
any equal portion of the globe; that
our valleys and hillsides, with their
wonderful fertility of soil, could pro-
duce food for an unlimited popula-
ton; that we have n people equalled
by few for their intelligence. cnltiva-
ton, energy and enterprise; that We
have here
''The splintercd ridge
That parts the northern showers.
That we have the heads of two might v
streams of water communication;
that theirs is the part to tell the
world that the vast domain thrOugl,
which they How is and shall forever be
one and inseparable. This is but n
simple recital OF facts that are within
the knowledge of us all. But when We
confront or estimate what the futur,
will be, the bollest imagination may
wisely halt. Among the class of men
who are recognized as beneiactors ol
| their race. give the foremost rank to
founders OF empires; and you, who
through toll, hardships and privation
have made the present actual and fu
ture possible, will have upon the fu
ture OF Montana n prOuder monument
than "storied urn or animated bust.
This is fit ting connection for that
which should be urged in season and
out OF season. until our just demand
is compiled with the demand for the
admission OF Montana into he tnioI
OF the states. We have recently bee,
visited by II number OF eninent Con
gressnen from the east. and ! won
dered when they saw this city. with
churches and school houses. and al
the appliances of an advanced eivillza
zation; OF n commonwealth OF 100,
600 souls, equal to them in thrift. en-
terprise and enlightenment. Ton'iere1
how they could reconcile ii to thei
sense of right that his people should
be deprived Of some of the most pre-
cious rights that attach to Americai
citizens 1t is "a happy Circumstance
that YOU have with you tonight I
samuel Adams and "A Patrick Henry
who will not fail to reiterate the de
man.l that the people OF the west shal
be emancipated from their rolonla
condition. and that before these pio
neers about me shall have passe'
away. and give place to another gen
Grafton. they shall be permitted t.
stand erect IN the f'Ill stature of po
Iirical manhood. Mr.. Chairman,
close by expressing the hope tina
through all the successivechan.es ia
, are to be. Montana will prove loya
to her traditions, and worthy ri he
pioneers.